Chapter 25: Don’t Die, Don’t Die, Absolutely Don’t Die

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Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk.

I tossed Ange’s underwear into the laundry basket and let Kojima-san inside.

“Sorry for intruding.”

I didn't have any tea to offer. There wasn't even any Jabba Tea for sale nearby, so I figured I'd just let it be.

“Just sit wherever. I'm going to eat my breakfast.”

“Eat the panties!?”

“…Hey.”

This isn't going to work. She's completely misunderstood the situation. Is she really that happy to have found someone else like her?

“Oh, I'm sorry. I promised to take it to my grave.

“Shut up! I said you're mistaken! Just be quiet already!”

Where did my cool high school image go?

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Hey, didn't you have something you wanted to talk about?”

“Mmm….yes, but you told me to shut up.”

“I meant, stop talking about irrelevant stuff like my little’s panties! Look, this is a waste of time. How about just go home already!”

It's frustrating when people don't understand the nuances.

“…”

“Well, you see.”

Kojima-san started speaking timidly while I silently ate my breakfast.

… Oops, I even got it wrong in my head.

“I think it's time for me to leave that house.”

“…”

“I understand now. Staying in that house twisted me.”

“…”

“So, I realized I needed to cut it off at the source.”

Well, the reason is obvious. She's become numb to pleasure.

Probably, in the past, she could forget her worries by indulging in pleasure. But now that she can’t feel it, she can objectively and calmly reflect on herself.

In that sense, her condition might not be a punishment from God but rather a blessing. It’s like a divine message telling her to start living a decent life.

“I’m truly grateful to you, Yuuta.”

“…What?”

Kojima-san thanked me, and I couldn't help but retort, surprised by the unexpected gratitude. But she didn't seem to mind.

“If I hadn't seen how hurt you were and how you cried so bitterly and painfully, I probably wouldn't have woken up.”

“…”

“Even if I had noticed, I would've pretended not to and kept lying to myself. Until I saw you again, Yuuta.”

Talking about your numbness as if it’s a touching story doesn’t sit well with me.

“That's why I'm grateful, and I'm sorry.”

As Kojima-san finished speaking and bowed her head, I finished my bread.

Time for my rebuttal. Her self-serving words were getting on my nerves.

“So what? You think I want to deal with a foolish woman who can't realize her own faults until she's hurt herself and others beyond repair?”

“Th-that's…”

“Realizing your mistakes is good. Trying to change yourself is commendable. But don't turn my pain into some kind of inspiring story.”

Why are Kurebayashi-san and Kojima-san both so idiotic?

They think they can't become decent without causing pain to someone else. It's clear they just want to be forgiven.

“I just wanted to be happy. Don't forget that.”

Since they're being selfish, I'll be selfish too.

“I’m really sorry, truly sorry.”

“I said it's fine! I have no intention of forgiving you, no matter how much you apologize! So just let me forget about you and don't involve me anymore!”

I tend to get more agitated when I voice my thoughts. Kojima-san was already sobbing, but I restrained myself from pushing her further, fearing she might harm herself again.

Calm down, me.

“But don't even think about doing something as foolish as ending your life. If you do, I'll never forgive you. Maybe one day, after enough time has passed, I might be able to forgive you. If your apology is genuine, live strongly on your own until then.”

I'm weak, aren't I?

But I don't want her to leave a note blaming me for her death. I need to protect myself.

“And if you must, ask for my permission first.”

“…Ah, ah, ahhhhhh…  I'm sorry, really sorry…… T-t-hank you for worrying about my life… ahhhhhh!!”

And so, I managed to smooth things over.

Yet, I couldn’t help but feel that Kojima-san, who was now lying down and crying even more intensely, had a major misunderstanding about something.